We have personnel news to report from both the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Biloxi Shuckers (Class AA; Southern League).
In New Hampshire, Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon has announced several appointments, including Mike Ramshaw as the new team president. Jim Flavin has been named the team’s General Manager. Jenna Raizes will assume the role of Deputy General Manager.
This is the first time in the team’s history that all members of the leadership team have roots in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
“I am pleased to have watched Mike, Jim and Jenna grow as individuals and leaders. They’re a strong team and have assembled a staff of creative, energetic professionals poised to bring the best possible Fisher Cats entertainment experience to fans in the upcoming season,” said Solomon. “We are counting down the days until the gates reopen for our 14th season in Manchester.”
“I’m grateful to Art and his family for the opportunities provided to me throughout my career that have allowed me to assume this leadership position with the team,” said Ramshaw. “I’m thrilled to be surrounded with a strong support staff and community partners who are dedicated to building lifetime memories for fans in the communities we serve.”
Ramshaw joined the Fisher Cats in the fall of 2006. He spent his first season as the Fisher Cats’ Director of Ticket Sales, progressing to his current position as the team’s President.
Ramshaw is an active member of the community and serves on the Board of Directors for Partnership for a Drug Free New Hampshire. In the past, he has served as a committee chairman for Cub Scout Pack 901 and as the Family “Friends of Scouting” Chair for the Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Webster Council.
His combination of business success and personal involvement in the community earned Ramshaw recognition as a 2013 ’40 Under Forty’ by the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The new president is a native of southern N.H. who graduated from Pinkerton Academy and attended Hesser College. He currently resides in Londonderry with his wife, Tracey, their sons Gabriel and Colby, and daughters Abigail and Sophia.
Flavin recently returned to New England to head the Fisher Cats’ ticketing and operations efforts from the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Born and raised in the Boston suburb of Milton, Mass., he began his career in baseball with the independent Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League while studying at the College of the Holy Cross.
After graduating in May of 2008 with a B.A. in Economics, Flavin spent one more season with the Tornadoes before making the leap across the country to become the Stadium Operations Manager for the Visalia Rawhide, the High-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After one season in California, Jim headed north to join the Tacoma Rainiers as a member of the Premium Ticket Sales Staff. He served one season as the Director of Corporate Partnerships before spending four seasons as the team’s Vice President of Business Development.
Raizes enters her sixth season with the Fisher Cats, having previously served as the team’s Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager. As Deputy General Manager, she’ll continue to grow the franchise’s involvement in and support of New Hampshire’s chambers of commerce, community events, schools and charities. Her role will encompass the marketing efforts of the Fisher Cats to reach its primary fan base in the state and northern Massachusetts as the games continue to provide affordable, family entertainment all spring and summer long.
Additionally, Raizes will continue to serve as President of the Fisher Cats Foundation, which along with the Fisher Cats, has helped to provide more than $4 million in monetary and in-kind donations since 2006.
Raizes and her husband, Charley, and son Ryder — who was born on Opening Day of the 2014 season — reside in Epping, N.H.
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In Biloxi, the Shuckers are announcing several additions to their front office staff.
Joining the Shuckers front office is Assistant General Manager Hunter Reed, Sales and Marketing Coordinator Dani Polen, Head Groundskeeper Will Lairamore and Assistant Head Groundskeeper Glenn Thompson. Jenifer Truong will now serve as Community Relations and Promotions Coordinator.
“We are extremely excited about the new additions to our team. We believe we have an All-Star staff in place who will help continue to build the Biloxi Shuckers brand and provide the best fan experience in Minor League Baseball,” said Shuckers General Manager Chuck Arnold.
Hunter Reed joins the Shuckers after spending 13 seasons with the Appalachian League’s Greenville Astros and 10 as the club’s Assistant General Manager. Reed will assist with the day-to-day operations for the Shuckers, while leading the team’s sponsorship, ticket and group sales, advertising, marketing and promotions efforts.
While in Greenville, Reed’s duties included gameday production, in-game promotions, maintaining the team website, online store orders, media relations, layout of the official game program, coordinating player appearances, and assisting with group and corporate sales.
Previously, Hunter served as the Director of Marketing and Media Relations for the Astros during 2006 and worked as an operations assistant during the 2005 season. Reed’s experience also includes the classroom, serving as adjunct faculty at East Tennessee State University, teaching Sport Marketing and Public Relations courses.
Over his tenure with the Astros, the club was given the Appalachian League Promotional Award of Excellence from 2007-2009, Baseball America’s Bob Freitas Award (Short Season) in 2008 and Appalachian League Community Service Award in 2016. The Astros took home the Appalachian League Championship during the 2015 season.
A native of Piney Flats, TN, Reed received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sport Management from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. He was very active in his community, which included serving as the President of the Kiwanis Club of Greeneville.
Dani Polen joins the Shuckers as Sales and Marketing Coordinator after serving as the Administrative Marketing Coordinator at The McCaughan Company Real Estate in Brandon, MS. where she managed and implemented the company’s marketing plan. Polen’s previous experience includes two years as the Director of Operations at Thimblepress Design & Letterpress in Jackson, MS.
Dani’s marketing background also includes serving as the Development and Services Coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation and Marketing and IONM Technician for NeuroProtective Services, both located in Jackson, MS. This is not Dani’s first experience in baseball, having previously worked for the Mississippi Braves during their second season in 2006, in Sales and Community Relations.
Polen will be focused on growing the Shuckers’ marketing efforts in the community, social media and sales.
Originally from Brandon, MS, Polen is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Minor in Graphic Design. She then went on to pursue and receive a Master of Business Administration.
Will Lairamore joins the Shuckers as Head Groundskeeper after serving as the Athletic Turf Supervisor at USA Stadium in Millington, TN, where he was responsible for the stadium’s upkeep and grounds, as well as four city recreational baseball and softball fields.
Previously, Lairamore worked for five years for Middle Tennessee State University baseball, responsible for complete maintenance and upkeep of the MTSU baseball field and complex. Lairamore gained experience in Minor League Baseball, serving as a grounds intern for the Double-A Jackson Generals in 2013 and Triple-A Louisville Bats in 2014.
A native of Maryville, TN, Lairamore graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Business.
Glenn Thompson will serve as Assistant Groundskeeper after joining the Shuckers during the 2016 season. Prior to joining the Shuckers, Thompson spent two years at Pearl River Community College, serving as Assistant Baseball Coach and in charge of athletic maintenance. Thompson spent four of the last six years coaching in the Petal School District, focused on field maintenance. While at Petal, the school won two 6A State Baseball Championships in 2010 and 2011.
A native of Hattiesburg, MS, Thompson graduated from William Carey University with a Bachelor in General Studies/Physical Education.
Jenifer Truong will now serve as Community Relations and Promotions Coordinator after working as the club’s Sales and Marketing Coordinator the previous two seasons. Prior to joining the Shuckers during the inaugural season in 2015, Truong spent three years working with the men’s basketball team at Southern Miss. She created brochures and flyers for camps, clinics, and events, assisted with team travel, and coordinated ball kids.
A native of Pass Christian, MS, Truong is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in sport management.